Phyllonorycter klemannella

Alternative names
Shining Alder Leaf-miner
Dark Alder Midget
Phyllonorycter kleemannella
Description

Wingspan 7 to 9 mm. The larva mines the leaves of Alder, creating a tentiform mine between two veins on the underside, with a winkled surface withut sharp folds.  The larva is white or yellow, and the pupa is in a cocoon with frass heaped to one side.

Similar Species

It can be similar to mines of P rajella or P froehlichiella.  If in doubt, examine larva or pupa. (ref. Bladmineerders.nl) 

Identification difficulty

Adult Leafmine

Recording advice

Photogrpah the under-surface of the mine, and larva/pupa.  Note host species

Habitat

Around Alder.

When to see it

The adults fly mostly in August, but the species may produce two broods a year, with moths also recorded in May.

Life History

The larva feeds on alder, forming a small blotch mine on the underside of a leaf. Sometimes several larvae mine the same leaf.

UK Status

Distributed throughout mainland Britain, though rare in the southern half of Scotland and in Ireland, it can be common in places. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

Once considered rare in Leicestershire and Rutland, but with more leafmining activity taking place in recent years this species has proved to be much more common than previously thought.

Reference
15.082 BF360

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Dark Alder Midget
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Gracillariidae
Records on NatureSpot:
22
First record:
01/08/2011 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
15/10/2025 (Calow, Graham)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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